St. Landry democrat., 1887-03-26
CHAPTER TX.

It is eight o'clock on the ensuing morn
ing when Lucy, MilIcent's maid, rushed
sobbing into Mrs. Brands bedroom.
''Oh, mann. Oh, my young lady! Oh,
mann! Oh. poor Miss Millicentl"
s'What. What is 1t, Speak, girl"
commands Mrs. Brand, her face grow
ing pale with nervous expectation.
"0h, nam. that l should live to see
this day! Oh, poor, dear Miss Grey!
Fer as was fond Of Her as never said
!, word unkind to mortal soul To see
her now, and TO think that only yester.
oay''-
"What do you mean, girls" cries Mrs.
Brand, ringing the b9a frautically.
Good heavensi What has happened to
Miss Gregg
''Oh. to only look at her, MANI
thought Id have dropped at her feet
when I pushed the door back, never
knowing why it was SO hard to open and
she lying against it, with her poor
head
1.-The woman will drive me mad!" cries
Mrs. Brand in a choked tone, and, hurry
ing past her, made her way to Millicent's
bedroom
Already two or three servants have
gathered there. The door is open, and
they are stopping over something lying
on the floor almost Immediately beyond
the threshold.
Mrs Brand, with a little cry, and pale
and trembling, PUSHES forward, the ser
wants part involuntarily, and there lying
upon the ground, TO all appearance life
less, lies Millicent. Her head is thrown
backward, and one hand is tightly
clinched.
''She is fainting. It is only faintr
cried Mrs. Brand, with an anguish in her
tone that bellies the meaning of her words.
"What are you all standing idle there
for?'' turning upon the terrified women.
"Has no one thought of sending for
doctors'
She Is down on her knees now beside
the pale still form, and has raised the
cold head on her arm.
eyes, mann; James has gone for
DOCTOR" sobs the housemaid nervously.
"Help me to lift her. So. Oh! be gen
tie, grill Thereon her bed. Pull up
the blind5-what are they down for at
this hours-one would think she was
deadr'
She says this yehemently, with sort
of defiance. But the awful word is too
much for her-it has hardly passed her
lips when her fictitious anger gives way,
she bursts into tears, and, falling on her
knees beside the bed, she stretches out
her arms to the unconscious body.
'Ohl my child! My pretty girl! What
is it? What has happened to you? Oh!
Millicent, speak to me!''
The doctor entering at this moment,
she Gains herself by supreme effort, for
in truth the poor woman il terribly I'M
nerved-no smallest suspicion of tragedy
having ever come near her before, in all
her calm, easy, luxurious life.
Him! har' says DR.. Thesby, shifting
about him suspiciously as he walks
lightly to the bedside and stoops over Mil
icent. ''Young lady been playing
FRANKS with chloroforms''
"Oh, no! Impossible" exclaims Mrs.
rand. Indeed, hardly think there is
any in the house. Certainly none that is
not under lock and key in my own ROOM"
Nevertheless, there is chloroform
here, or has been," says the doctor, sniff
ing again. He has been examining Mill
cent while speaking, and now calls for
certain things to be brought him by the
attending servants. Seeing Mrs. Brands
distress, lie turns kindly to her. II can't
quito make it ont yet, but pray compose
yourself, my dear madame. Your niece
is by no means beyond the power of man
yeti
And, indeed, at the expiration of half
an hour or so h1illicent is so far recov-
cred as to be shle 70 smile ur1n them.